Leigh dovetail Jig and two routers

[Krittgers]

Is is sensibly to think a person would use a Leigh DR4 with two routers, one being for the pins and one for the tails, or are there too many issues with collet and base plate inaccuracies.

Thanks

KR

[thintz]

Some folks do have dedicated routers for pins and tails on half blind dovetails because of how sensitive that joint is to bit height adjustments. I know a guy who bought the finest bits he could get and has not moved anything on either of his dedicated half blind routers in at least 7 years now. Of course there are many who lack that kind of budget and just go through a couple test cuts to get the settings right.

[Krittgers]

I thought you used only one bit for half blind dovetails with the leigh. Wrong?

KM

Absolutely right, one dovetail bit for half-blinds. (It was 2 am..... but I was still stupid).
See, now it makes even more sense to have a dedicated router for half blinds! What is even dumber about my first answer (the wrong one..) is that I recently was thinking of setting up one of my routers for half blinds.

I stand corrected, you stand better all around and have another useful bit of information!

[Krittgers]

well, I am somewhat of a new comer, but what what really got me going was when I looked at you review of the Leigh, which I think is very balanced and accurate, from what I know, and your review of the centering a guide collar on the bit. I should have clarified my question a little. So here goes:

You have two routers. You buy the centering guide for both, from Woodcraft. Then cut through dovetails using two routers. One thing is that if I were to do this I would want to use the 8mm router bits. I just don't know how feasible this is.

I also know a cabinet maker who not only kept two routers to cut perfect half blind dovetails, but he also bought a spare brand new leigh dovetail jig (the one before the 4DR). I wonder why he did that? Maybe he thought they would go under. I have a 4DR but it isn't a pro but I haven't used it for more than about 20 minutes do to health concerns. I have two D handle routers and I used them and the cuts looked like the "before" on your centering article. They are off. I think I am going to spring for both centering bases from Woodcraft.

I went to my shop and found two unused solid Brass "precision 7/16's guide bushing from Whiteside. I have heard Whiteside does a nice job. I feel better and I am anxious to get up there and cut some dovetails.

Thanks

KR

I have seen dovetails by the new Omnijig and I don't want to insult anyone, but I am not sure you could give me one of those contraptions.

thanks

KR

[Krittgers]

I was wondering if my original question could be answered:

Is is sensibly to think a person would use a Leigh DR4 with two routers, one being for the pins and one for the tails, or are there too many issues with collet and base plate inaccuracies.

With a collet centering device can two routers work effectively with the Leigh for through dovetails?

Thanks

KR

[thintz]

If you mean moving a centering base plate and bits between two routers, I wouldn't do that. Equipping two routers with centering bases and bits is an option and is done in production settings quite often, even for through dovetails. In the home shop most just use one router and change bits because there is no big depth sensitivity like with half blinds.
I know a fellow who has an individual router set up for each of his common tasks on and off a dovetail jig but he is an admitted router junkie who has something on the order of 15 routers hidden throughout his shop!
Am I getting your question right? If not please let me know.

[Krittgers]

I mean I would have two routers and both would have centering bit's to set them up and then use one router for the pins and one for the tails. They would be dedicated for this most of the time.

I have two Porter Cable 690 D routers that I could use for this. My question, would the results be good if you used the centering base plate that you did a review on, if all other things were equal?

Thanks

KR

[thintz]

Centering the bit with a good adjustable baseplate is always a good idea. If the original setup is even a little off center (as most seem to be to some degree) you can never get a perfect joint. I get email all of the time from people that are fighting a dovetail jig only to find out later that their router was a tick off center and that was really causing their problems.
With through dovetails I doubt you will improve accuracy with two routers over one that equipped with the centering plate. It would eliminate changing bits so if you do this often, using the two routers could be a good deal for you.

[Krittgers]

I watched the Wood Whisperer on a podcast using the Leigh. He uses two Festools.

My actual question is whether you would lose quality by making through dovetails with two routers. Both would be centered with that base plate device you reviewed. If I center both bits would I still get the quality or does this just toss in more room for error when we are talking in the .0001 arena. I think I will just give it a try when the base plates come in.

Thanks

Kelly Rittgers

[thintz]

If both routers are centered, you don't lose quality or accuracy, just spend a bunch more on routers!